Fireproof window-closing means



J. W. YATES. FIREPROOF WINDOW CLOSING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1917.

1,340,131 1. I Patented May 18, 1920.

K 1" .z; Z v /9 n Jill/i JOHN W. YATES, OF NEW YORLK, N. .Y.

FIREPROOF WINDOW-CLQSING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Application filed June 5, 1817. Serial No 172,962.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN YATES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, boroughof Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Fireproof Window-Closing Means, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to window closing means and, more particularly, to means for closing fire-proof windows in case of confiagration.

It has been the general practice to incorporate a fusible link in the weight-carrying chains in the lower sash of fire-proof windows whereby confiagration in the vicinity disrupts the fusible link and allows the lower sash to gravitate from an open to a closed position automatically when the heat in the vicinityof the window has reached apredetermined degree. This practice has allowed of the leaving of the lower cash open for ventilating purposes with the assurance that it would be automatically closed in case of fire butodoes not, in any way, rovide for automaticallyclosing of the upper sash.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby both sashes, may be left in open position but willbe automatically closed in case of fire.

i In windows having sliding sashes counterbalances or weights are provided for each sash, the weights of the upper sash serving to maintain said sash in closed position, while the weights of the lower sash normally serve to maintain said sash in open position against the force of gravity. The weight of the counterbalanccs and of the sashes are the same so that the sashes will be balanced in any position and may be maintained in partly open position, if desired. In accordance with the present invention, I associate with the counterbalance of the lower. sash means whereby the disruption of the hereinbefore mentioned fusible, link associated with saidlower sash, will cause the ponderosity of the weights of the lower sash to be imposed upon the upper sash in addition to the weights normally cocperating therewith so that, when this extra weight is imposed upon the upper sash, it serves to overbalance 0r spoil the equilibrium between said sash and its weights and movedsaid upper sash' to closed position automatically.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, *1 have illustrated one practical embodiment ofthe present invention, but the' construction shown therein is to be understood 'asillustrative, only, and not as defining the'limits of the invention.

'Figure'l'is 'a perspective view of an enlarged'portion of 'a window casing showing the sashes in partlyopened positions.

Fig. 2 is a' section in substantially the plane of the-line 2+2 ofFigfl, and

Fig. 3 is adetailperspective of a weight transmitting member preferably employed.

'Referring'to the drawings, A indicates a window casing of any well known and conventional form in which lis'mounted, for

sliding movement, an upper or outer sash B and a lower or inner sash C. In fire-proof windowsall of these parts are generally formed from sheet metal and areshown as thus constructed in the accompanying drawings. The sashes B and-C are mounted for vertical sliding movement in the usual manner and'with each'sash is associatedcounterbalances, only two of which are'shown" in the drawings. The counterbalance C, and its'm'ate, are associated with the sash C, and the counterbalance '13, and its mate, areassoci'ated withthe sash 'B. The jcounterbalance B is connected to the upper portion of one lateral edge of th sashB by the'usu'al chain or sash cord b which runs over a sheave b,'as shown in Fig.2.] 'One end of the chain 6 is fixedly secured to the stash'B and this relation between thesash'and its counterbalance is at no time'aflfectedf by fire.

The counterbalance C ha's 'lassociated therewith a chain or sash cord cwhichiriins over a sheave c, thence downwardly within the channel formed within'the l'ateraledge of the sash C to the bottom ofsaid' sash, where it changes its direction and extends transverselyof the'sash and'withi'n the channel formed within the lower edge thereof, as is well known in fire-proof window construction. Positioned within that portion of the cord or chain c which extends across the bottom edge of the sash C,'is included a fusible link 0 although, .manifestl'y," this link may,'if desired',"be positioned in other parts" of said chain. The 'functionofthe link '0 is to simultaneously free the sash l C from the counterbalancing influence of counterbalance C when a predetermined degree of heat has been attained so that, when freed from weight of counterbalance c, and its mate,-the sash C will automatically gravitate into closed position.

The construction thus far described is that generally employed in fire-proof windows and the present invention starts at this point, my object being to utilize the dropping of the weights of the counterbalance C, and its mate, after they have been released from the fusible link 0 to bring about the closing of the upper sash B if said upper sash has been left in open or partially open position.

In the preferred manner of practising the invention I incorporate in that portion of the chain c which is housed within the window casing A, a weight transmitting member D, as shown in detail in Fig. 3. Member D is in the form of a plate provided, at its top and bottom, with apertures (l by which it is included in the chain and with a laterally extending bracket portion carrying at its outer end a ring or eye (Z. The parts are so associated, in practice, that member D is included in the chain 0, while the chain 6 is run through the eye 0?, as shown in Fig. '2. In the normal operation of the sashes, the raising or lowering of the sash C will not, in the least, be interfered with by the member D which will run freely longitudinally of the chain 7). In like manner, the sash B may be readily manipulated, dur ing which operation the chain 7) runs idly through the eye (Z, the movement of either sash in no way interfering with the operation of or causing movement of the other.

It will, however, be manifest, when the link 0 is disrupted under the application of heat, the chain 0 will be released and the counterbalance C will drop, carrying with it the member D, until said member has arrived substantially to the dotted position of Fig. 2, at which point the weight of member C will be imposed upon the chain Z) in addition to the weight of the counterbalance B, and this operation will simultaneously occur at the other side of the window. The result is that the imposing of the extra weight upon the chains 6 will cause the weight of the upper sash to be overbalanced,

and said sash will move to a closed position' It is apparent that the employment of means specified will not interfere with the manipulation of either sash as required for window cleaning, and that said means is inexpensive, easy to install and eflicient in its operation. It has been set forth that the chain c is common to the counterbalance C and its mate. The preferred form for allowing of the transmission of the weight of one counterbalance onto another is shown in the drawings and has been described, but it will be apparent that a modified construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be construed as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A construction of the character described embodying upper and lower sashes, a pair of sash cord pulleys associated with each sash, sash weights for each sash and a single sash cord secured to each lateral edge for each sash, extending upwardly over the corresponding sash cord pulley and secured at its opposite end to a sash weight, in combination with means controlled by excessive heat for releasing the sash cords from the lower sash to entirely disconnect the counterbalancing weights therefrom to allow the lower sash to gravitate to closed position, and means included in the sash cord connections between the lower sash and its counterbalancing weights, and independently of the latter, for imposing the weight of the thus released sash weights of the lower sash on the sash cords of the upper sash, whereby the upper sash is overbalanced and automatically raised to closed position.

2. A construction of the character described embodying an upper sash, a lower sash, sash cords for suspending said sashes and a counterbalancing weight associated with each sash cord, in combination with means, operable by excessive heat, for releasing the sash cords of the lower sashes from said sash to allow the sash to gravitate to closed position, and a member included in the sash cord connections between the lower sash and its counterbalancing weights and located at a point in such connections above the weights, said member being provided with a looped projection encircling the sash cords of the upper sash, whereby, when the sash cords of the lower sash are released from said sash the weights of the lower sash are imposed upon the sash cords of the upper sash with the result that the added weight thereto overbalances and automatically raises the upper sash to closed position.

3. A construction of the character described embodying upper and lower sashes, sash weights associated with each sash, a connection between each lateral edge of each sash and the corresponding sash weight, said connections for the lower sash including a member forming a part of the connection above each sash weight and provided with a projection embracing the adjacent connection of the upper sash, and means associated with the connections of the lower sash, and operably by excessive temperature, to disconnect the connections in the lower sash and allow said sash to gravitate to closed position, whereupon the thus released sash weights of the lower sash fall and are suspended by the said members upon the sash weight connections of the upper sash, whereby the added weight of the falling sash weights overbalances the upper sash and raises it to closed position.

at. A construction of the character de scribed embodying upper and lower sashes, a pair of weights for each sash, a sash cord connected to one of the sash weights of the upper sash at one of its ends and to one lateral edge of the upper sash at its other end, the second sash cord secured at one of its ends to the other weight of the upper sash and secured at its opposite end to the other lateral edge of the upper sash, a sash cord secured at one end to one of the weights of the lower sash, passing around three sides of the lower sash and secured at its other end to the other sash weight of the lower sash, fusible means included in the sash cord of the lower sash and disruptable under excessive heat to release the lower sash from its sash cord and allow the lower sash to gravitate to closed position, and a looped member included in each under portion of the cash cord of the lower sash at points above the weights, and being independently of the weights with a portion of said looped member embracing the sash cords of the upper sash, whereby, when the sash cord of the lower sash is disrupted, the weights of such lower sash fall and are suspended by the looped members on the sash cords of the upper sash, the added weight serving to raise the upper sash to closed position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN W. YATES. 

